Restored 360° Historic Penthouse, Centro Storico of Penne

If the whole of Abruzzo had a single viewing point, this would be it.

For private sale in Penne (PE): a fully restored 12-room penthouse with noble heritage and a terrace overlooking the whole of Abruzzo

NO AGENT COMMISSION, OWNER SALE

The noble family that owned this house for centuries felt the same way. Their last well-known descendant spent years here writing poetry, always inspired by the beauty all around, and in the rooms of the D’Aristotile house in the historic centre of Penne.

Officially, the property is an apartment. It covers the top two and a half floors of the building and shares just the street entrance with two smaller, separate homes. It does not share any walls in common with anyone else. In practice, it lives like a small, curated museum. A Liberty-style entrance sets the tone, and inside there are twelve rooms, three attics, a terrace, a balcony and a cellar, all the modern comforts, and a few intriguing secrets still waiting to be discovered.

Every generation that lived here loved it, and it is easy to see why. It might be the light, which falls differently in every room; the top-floor terrace, where you feel like king of the world above the three Abruzzo provinces, Teramo, Pescara, and Chieti, with their finest towns lined up before you at sunrise; the attics made from Roman brick, ready to become a private cinema ora quiet hideaway; the small treasures hidden inside the walls; or maybe just the wide modern shower and the view from your future French bathtub. The reason is different for everyone.  But the result is always the same.

Restoration

The restoration was completed in late 2025, and done with a light hand: enough to make the house easy to live in, but not so much that its character was lost. There is a new roof, new flooring in some rooms, and carefully restored antique floors in others, including the original Liberty floor in the main room; new double-glazed period windows with shutters and their original exposed iron-and-bronze handles; restored chestnut internal doors; a new kitchen; and new bathrooms. At the heart of the house is an original Carrara marble fireplace, and each room has its own unique antique chandelier. The designer touches that bring everything together were chosen to balance the old and the new, the simple and the beautiful.

Most of all, remember this as the only true 360-degree home in the area. The layout faces all four directions of the compass, so the view arrives from every side at once: snow on the mountains, the warm Adriatic, the old town, distant cities, olive groves and green hills, medieval lanes, and church bells. The town is part of the experience. The jazz and wine festivals, the old religious processions, the Saturday market, the excitement of the agricultural fair, and the summer parties all unfold beneath your balconies. Enjoy it all from your favourite seat in the living room, or close the new shutters and enjoy the quiet again.

Property Highlights

• Over 300 square meters across the top two and a half floors of a historic building in the old town centre
• The only true 360-degree home in the area, with windows facing all four directions
• 360-degree top-floor terrace with views of the mountains, sea, hills, and city
• Period features kept, including a Liberty-style entrance, original Carrara marble fireplace, original Liberty floor, and restored chestnut doors
• Private, independent access to three attics built with Roman brick
• A dry, spacious old cellar, perfect as a summer kitchen or wine cellar
• The layout includes two living rooms, four bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms, two utility rooms, three attics, a panoramic balcony, a terrace, three hallways, and a cellar
• New roof, new double glazing with shutters on all windows, and a full renovation completed in 2025. Move-in turnkey ready, with no restoration needed
• Flexible enough for an extended family or a boutique B&B, with no shared walls
• Just a one or two-minute walk from the town’s restaurants, cafes, and markets
• Free parking is available in front of the house, with the main car park just outside the historic centre.
• Part of a small but established condominium for reduced insurance and maintenance costs

Who This Property is For

This is a large home, and that’s exactly the point. It suits an extended family who want to gather under one roof or take holidays in shifts, with enough space to never feel crowded.  The same space and the separate-feeling layout make it a natural boutique B&B or holiday rental in a town that already attracts visitors all year. And for anyone who wants a finished, characterful home in a historic centre, instead of spending years restoring a cheaper ruin, it is ready now, a turnkey property. Full-time relocators, holiday-home seekers, and investors looking for rental income will all find something to love here.

Energy Level – G

Penne is a lively town in the province of Pescara that stays active year-round, which is one reason this property works well as a real home rather than just a holiday spot. Built almost entirely in honey-colored brick, Penne is known as the City of Brick and is sometimes compared to a smaller version of Siena. Since 2012, it has been part of I Borghi più Belli d'Italia, the association of Italy's most beautiful villages.

Penne is also known for Italian tailoring. The luxury brand Brioni opened its first large-scale atelier here in 1959, in the hometown of its co-founder, Nazareno Fonticoli, and still runs its Scuola di Alta Sartoria, a tailoring school in town. This helps keep skilled jobs and young people in Penne even today.

The town has one of the largest expat communities in Abruzzo, so newcomers rarely lack company or support as they settle into life in Penne. The town has been named one of the best small towns in Italy for a comfortable retirement, and it is easy to see why: hills,  mountains, the sea, and a lake are all nearby. There is a student population, a good hospital for a mid-sized town, where you never feel isolated or hemmed in.

Local History and Character

Penne shows its history clearly. It started as a pre-Roman settlement of the Vestini, became a
seat of power under Margaret of Parma and the Farnese family in the sixteenth century, and was built
with brick. It is also the hometown of the patriot and poet Clemente De Cesaris, remembered as
the Garibaldi of Abruzzo. More than fifty monuments, churches, palaces, and old fountains
can be found in the historic centre.  Read 24 Hours in Penne - A Local's Guide

. Nearest minimarket Alimentari, 60 m, 1 min walk
. Nearest supermarket (open Sundays) Tigre, 300 m, 5 min walk
. Weekly market Penne, Saturday
. Bar or cafe Pon Cafe, 130 m, 2 min walk
. Restaurant for a special night Tipico, 60 m, 1 min walk
. Nearest winery Cantinetta Mava, 60 m
. Nearest agriturismo Agriturismo Mazzatenta, 3 km, 7 min drive
. Nearest beach Marina di Città Sant'Angelo, 29 km, 35 min drive
. Nearest hospital / A&E Presidio Ospedaliero Penne, 2 km, 5 min drive
. Nearest motorway exit Pescara Nord / Città Sant'Angelo (A14), approx. 28 km,33 min
.Nearest train station Montesilvano, 28 km, 33 min

. Outdoor & nature: [Riserva Naturale Regionale Lago Di Penne 9 min drive, Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso 25 min drive, nearest beach 35 min drive, Parco Nazionale della Majella 65 min drive]
. Cultural sites: [More than 50 monuments in Penne (churches, buildings, ancient fountains), Contemporary Art museum, Archaeological museum]
. For families with children: [Local parks, Lake, Adventure Park]
. Local sagre and festas (with seasons): [ Feste Patronali di San Massimo (May, Penne), Notte Bianca, sports events, Di . Vino Vestino & dozens of different parties all around Abruzzo in summer]
. Local food specialities: [arrosticini]